Who Needs A Gym Membership....

Wednesday morning, after I stopped to have my blood drawn for a metabolic and liver test [because of the Rx, statins], I took myself out for breakfast since I had to be fasting for 12 hours before the lovely needle headed my way. Then, off to the islands for another trek in search for the rare [vagrant] ducks seen along the ship channel for the last few weeks. They are most always found up north [yukon, northwest territories]. 

Normally, when I do walk the channel's jetty, I stop at the end of the paved path and turn around to walk along the beach. On this morning, I was determined to find the ducks, if they were still here, even if I had to walk the entire jetty to the end where the channel meets the sea! Total distance from where I parked the car to the end is estimated to be about 1/2 mile. Once beyond the paved path...nothing but boulders the size of a pickup bed and larger...all layered and jutting up, caving downward, and mostly angled unless you're at the water's edge...which I avoided since the spray from the surf made it slick and treacherous going. I remained in the center of the jetty. Birders and fisherman were at the end. All in search of something special. Either the reported vagrant ducks or a nice catch to take home and fry it up in a pan.  Now, I ask you...who needs a gym membership when you have this for exercising?

Dolphins, gulls, pelicans, terns, egrets and sunshine and surf entertained me as I kept going forward! When I reached the end of the jetty, no ducks were seen. Turning back...ugh! Nobody told me I had to go back!!   Wait!  I did find the two rare ducks along the Gulf side of the boulders, sunning themselves on a moss covered knoll. I went, I conquered. I was pleased. Another bird for my record keeping. But, oh, the backs of my legs are cursing at me for climbing those slick rocks and thousands of steps.